It’s hardly rocket science is it. England lose test matches because our top order is as fragile as a toddler’s temperament. You can’t win test matches if you’re 40-3 all the time. Everyone knows that.
However, one of the things that has been somewhat overlooked is the importance of Australia’s top three. They’re actually just as important as England’s top order – if not more so.
When England’s front three are blown away i.e. when Lyth nicks one behind, Ballance gets exposed, and Alastair does absolutely nothing wrong other than playing an abysmal shot, England have the relative solidity of Root and Stokes to follow.
Australia’s middle-order actually has a softer underbelly. Adam Voges hasn’t looked like a test match batsman thus far, while Mitchell Marsh is talented but far from the finished article. They also had a debutant at seven at Lord’s.
The bottom line is that Australia actually need their top order to fire even more than England do. If Anderson and Broad can dismiss Rogers, Warner and Smith early on, the Aussies will be up fecal billabong without a suitable implement.
That’s why the first session at Edgbaston will be absolutely crucial. I expect it to set the tone for the entire test match. If Lyth can hang around with Cook long enough, and the skipper can fight his way to a trademark century, then England can breath easily. On the other hand, an early wicket would put Bell under excruciating pressure. If that happens I think we’ll all fear the worst.
However, if England win an important toss and insert the Aussies, Anderson and Broad could swing momentum back to England. David Warner’s record in this country isn’t particularly brilliant (yet), therefore Rogers holds the key. If we can remove the ageing limpet, and expose Smith to the new ball, then I fancy our chances.
Steve Smith is a very good player, but a double ton on a placid pitch against a deflated attack operating at little more than 80mph, does not make his quirky method impenetrable. I’m struggling to think of a single batsmen who has scored runs consistently in English conditions with a trigger movement like Smith’s. We shall see …
If England can get Voges batting before lunch, then we’ll be in an excellent position. And of course, if we can dismiss Australia cheaply, then our batsmen won’t be under the same kind of pressure as they were at Lord’s.
Over the years Australian openers have been one of England’s primary bugaboos*. I used to hate Taylor and Marsh with a passion, but this was nothing, absolutely nothing, compared to the contempt I had for Michael bloody Slater. He used to drive me to distraction.
Then there were the Hayden and Langer years. Arrrrgggghhh. Just one look at Hayden’s gum chewing mug was enough to raise my blood pressure to dangerous levels. And as for Langer, don’t get me started. There’s nothing worse than a bloke in a baggy green cap pretending to be a nice guy. You’re weren’t kidding anyone, Justin.
The last few years haven’t been so bad really. Simon Katich wasn’t quite good enough to annoy me on a consistent basis, and Shane Watson, who looks like he’s stepped straight off the set of Home and Away, never really made enough big scores to attain cult villain status.
However, Rogers and particularly Warner are really starting to grind my gears. How dare they be so bloody good?
If you’re reading this Jimmy and Stuart – and I’m led to believe by the pixie at the bottom of my garden that you’re regular readers of TFT – then I expect you to make the Aussie top order pay in Birmingham. The whole test could depend on it.
James Morgan
@DoctorCopy
* I’m open to feedback on the word bugaboo. Do you like it? I’m not entirely convinced myself, but I couldn’t resist the temptation to throw it in there. Imagine Riche Benaud saying it.
Bugaboo is forgivable. If you’d used the word Winningest, you would have lost a follower.
I can promise you now Matthew that I will never, ever, use the word winningest. :-)
If ifs and ands were pots and pans….
We know the top three are crock (Cook looks like he’s aged 10 years carrying it) and Root is having to sneak further up the order to where he fluffed it in the last two Ashes series (Lords notably excluded) due to new ball exposure.
But I think you can add to that that Jimmy is done (his head goes down even quicker than before) and Broad had never fired five games in a row.
Rather be in the Aussie position, then.
Mark
I agree. There’s been much lamenting over our lack of a spinner but more often than not Ashes series go to the side with the best fast bowlers, and the spinner’s role (unless you have an exceptional one – Warne and our man now in the commentary box) is to keep an end tight – a la Giles – to give the captain the freedom to rest and rotate at the other end. Makes it even more of a shame that previous regime ruined Finn.
Much as I think Anderson is I overrated (averages 38 at home vs Aus and same away which puts him in Caddick’s class) however as we well know on his day he can be brilliant so I don’t think writing him off is a good idea at this point. Particularly when the pitch looks to be more to his liking.
“If England win an important toss and insert the Aussies….”
You seem confident that it’s a bowl-first pitch James. Do you have inside info? :)
It’s a strange one Kev. Normally Alastair phones me up for advice in the run up to every test match (perhaps that’s why his captaincy isn’t so great), but this time I’ve heard absolutely nothing. I’ll be a bit peeved if he thinks Bayliss is a better sounding board than me.
To be honest mate, I’m just looking out the window and it’s very grey and overcast. The forecast for the whole week is rubbish and there’s been a lot of rain around. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Edgbaston pitch plays a little differently to Lord’s.
Don’t know what weather forecast you’re using James but the BBC forecast for the week ahead is fine (not especially warm but just a faint chance of a shower on Wednesday and dry on Thursday and Friday).
It’s heavily overcast in Birmingham now and, according to forecasts I’ve seen, likely to remain similar for much of the week. The English attack (ahem) “Don’t mean a thing if you ain’t got that swing” so maybe there’ll be something in the conditions for Jimmy & Co. ? If that happens, the pitch plays true (and our top order play as though they actually give a shit) maybe it’ll be at least a closer match than Lords?
Not sure about promoting Bell to No. 3 though. If he’s so completely out of nick, or mentally shot (or whatever is going on) then logically he’ll be even more exposed coming in earlier in the proceedings. If Lyth goes cheaply he’ll be facing the new ball and still-fresh Mitches and this time next week we might be reflecting on how Bell was “set up to fail.”
This is good ,……….
More straw-clutching here than the average Selvey article! The Australian middle order didn’t do much at Lord’s – they didn’t have to.
I’d be amazed if Clarke doesn’t have one last big innings in him; Voges has a ton of experience in England and a ton only four Tests ago; Mitch Marsh has been in belting form all tour (and, more surprisingly, looking a threat with the ball); Nevill batted well on debut (albeit not under much pressure) and often plays as a specialist batsman in Shield cricket. The middle order did look potentially vulnerable at Cardiff with Watto and Haddin but it looks better now.
Add in that Warner is getting better and better, Rogers looks like he’s going to be fit and Smith is off the back of a double century and has the 10th best ranking ever. Smith scored 199 in the WI in very ‘English condition’ with Jerome Taylor swinging the cheapo Duke ball round corners – of course Smith can play the moving ball.
England can’t control what Australia do – but we can look at ourselves. All the focus has been on the batting – as usual, the bowling seems to be flying under the radar. Anderson has been mediocre in all four home Tests this summer. The support bowling consists of Wood (averaging nearly 40), Stokes (one wicket at 171 so far this series) and Ali (probably not fully fit and probably not quite good enough). Only Broad looks in good nick.
Oi! Straw-clutching? The cheek. I didn’t say England will win. However, it’s perfectly fair to say that the Aussie middle-order has question marks.
Runs against the Windies means comparatively little. Haddin and Watson are both seasoned campaigners, so I don’t see how adding two rookies suddenly makes the middle-order stronger. The counties haven’t been putting out very strong sides, so I’m not sure Marsh’s form counts for that much. England will certainly see him as a potential weakness until he scores runs against them – just like any side will target inexperienced players.
Voges has looked poor in the Ashes thus far, and that’s what we’re talking about here – the Ashes. I didn’t mention Clarke as a No4 isn’t really a middle-order position. Root and Stokes, on the other hand, have probably looked like England’s best batsmen. Therefore I stand by my theory. If there’s one chink the Aussies’ armour, a place where England have a slight edge, it’s in the number 5 & 6 position.
By the way Simon, anyone who compares me to Selvey in the future will receive an automatic life ban from TFT. I’ll also track offenders down like a dog (I have your IP addresses remember) and make you watch highlights of the 2007/07 Ashes on a loop, for weeks, Clockwork Orange style. Fair enough?
If we’re on 70s film-inspired punishments, I thought you might go for some ‘Marathon Man’ style dental work! Is it safe……arghhh!
Anyway, I still beg to differ. Root is batting at No.4 so the match up at No.5 is with Bairstow. There’s lots to like about Bairstow but he looked out of his depth last time he played against Australia and there are big question marks about his technique. He is in great county form but I’m not sure that means much and he was dropped twice when making his ODI match-winning score against a severely depleted NZ attack. Voges hasn’t yet made a major score but his debut century in WI was very impressive (no one else made 40). I don’t see why runs in the WI don’t count – don’t you remember our press corps all telling us WI most definitely aren’t mediocre! Mitch Marsh made runs against England in the Tri-Series in the winter and he has made tough Test runs in the UAE. Both he and Nevill looked technically very sound at Lord’s.
I think Marsh and Nevill strengthened the side because England have worked out Watson as a batsman and if he didn’t bowl more at Cardiff when is he going to? Haddin was a terrific player at his best but an average of 15 since the 13/14 Ashes suggests age has finally caught up with him. Also, both players have only known Ashes’ defeat in England and that must bring with it some mental scarring. I’d say Australia have the naivety and fearlessness of youth now (although Nevill isn’t actually that young).
Fair enough Simon. I see where you’re coming from. Point taken re: Bairstow, although one could argue that his inclusion might boost England in the same way Marsh / Neville have boosted Australia. Only time will tell. I do fear the worst, but I still think our best hope is to take early wickets and expose the Aussie middle-order. We shall see.
I’m afraid I’m yet to see Marathon Man. I know this is extremely poor of me!
A bit early to write Voges off. He has really only had the two test innings so far as he came in to score quick runs in the first innings at Lords and didn’t bat in the second. However I do think his spot is under pressure as Sean Marsh has played pretty well recently and is a longer term prospect. If he fails to get a fifty this test I think they will replace him.
Always liked Shaun Marsh. Good player to watch.
Keep hearing it’s going to be a bit of a green top. I am not sure about some of the Aussies if it’s overcast on a wicket where the ball is hooping. Wouldn’t be surprised if either captain puts the opposition in first. This could be over in three days rather than four. A lot may depend on who gets and makes the best of the conditions on the first day.
To judge by Boyd Rankin’s returns for Warwickshire at Edgbaston this season, it is not a surface conducive to fast bowling.
posted too fast… however Ryan Sidebottom took 11 wickets for Yorkshire, comfortably the best bowler in the match, when no one else seemed to do very much. Remind me which of the 2 Test teams has 2 left arm bowlers.
Given the state of their balance sheet, Warwickshire will be desperate for the game to last as long as possible. They will not waqnt to fork out for refunds. So the weather forecast might play a crucial part in the planning.
Ideally they’ll want the minimum number of overs bowled without having to pay up partial refunds. England might make it to day five if this happens ;-)
Forecast is dodgy for day 1, could be a lengthy wet spell in the afternoon.
Fine days 2 & 3. So should go to day 4.
Have they sold day 5 in advance?
I’d go with “bugbear”.
Being consistently 3-40 certainly doesn’t help, but only picking 3 bowlers and hoping batting all-rounders can pick up the slack isn’t a recipe for winning tests.
Seen Swann’s impersonation of KP on Australian radio?
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/graeme-swanns-ruthless-kevin-pietersen-impersonation/story-fnig5e6k-1227460322567
It’s great. But imagine the accusations of ‘pettiness’, ‘giant ego’, ‘corrosive influence’ if the boot was on the other foot.
am not going to bother with this. The man is a turd
Who’s a turd?
Swann or KP?
SWANN!
Both of them ;-)
Well, at least KP had the decency to play through his injuries, rather than going home prematurely in order to keep his test match bowling average fractionally under 30.
It’s also worth mentioning that Swann criticised Pietersen in his dull autobiography ‘The Breaks Are Off’ … when they were both still playing for England.
Pietersen might have an ego, but I think everyone who played with Swann knows he’s a loud mouth too. He’d do well to show a little more class. As far as I’m aware, Matt Prior has kept his thoughts to himself, which shows a lot more dignity imho.
There’s nothing worse than a comic who thinks he’s funny. Pot. Kettle. Black.
Funnily enough, there’s a notably generous article by Pietersen in today’s Telegraph:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/theashes/11766567/Ashes-2015-England-batsmen-must-fight-fire-with-fire-against-Mitchell-Johnson-says-Kevin-Pietersen.html
Ian Bell is a wonderful batsman and is now in his rightful position at three. He is struggling at the moment. But every batsman has those periods. The problem in England is that once you have played more than 100 Tests patience wears thin. Very few England players go on into their late 30s. We always seem to want to move older players on and give others an opportunity. Now Bell finds himself in that position and if he fails to score runs people will say his career is finished. It is wrong and unfair…
Listening to this it made it conclusive in my mind that Swann was definitely one of those behind KPGenius twitter account.
And if my Granny had balls she’d be my Grandad.
I must say James the ‘if’ count in this article is surely worthy of a Selvey reference if not a full on comparison. I don’t want to be hunted down and tortured by being made to watch 2005 on a loop. (I suppose that would be deemed appropriate for a despised enemy.)
If a fast swinging pitch is served up I would be hesitant to depend so much on Root who seems to have had his issue with getting on to the front foot exposed a little at lords.
And Starc was swinging it at Lords if Edgbaston swings then those 90mph yorkers will make life interesting for England again. And what about Johnson on a bouncier pitch not to mention Hazlewood (which of course I just did) he looks like he would be quite a handful on a ‘typical’ English wicket.
As I say lots of ‘if’s’ in the article but who would you put your money on to get 20 wickets for the least amount of runs?
As yet no one has mentioned lower order batting. If this turns out to be a lower scoring match, the contribution of the lower orders could be crucial.
England team is always a tough team to beat their home conditions.recently india vs england series ,mr root and co outplayed the visitors in all formats ..best wishes for MR cook ,,
hope to see how england team play without cook ,butler in away series ..
https://bhavitra.com/